US 12,124,195 B2
Image forming apparatus having a fixing unit and heating control method
Yohei Doi, Mishima Shizuoka (JP); Eiji Shinohara, Mishima Shizuoka (JP); Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Yokohama Kanagawa (JP); Sasuke Endo, Chigasaki Kanagawa (JP); Masaya Tanaka, Sunto Shizuoka (JP); Ryota Saeki, Sunto Shizuoka (JP); Kousei Miyashita, Sunto Shizuoka (JP); Ryosuke Kojima, Sunto Shizuoka (JP); Yuki Kawashima, Tagata Shizuoka (JP); and Kiyotaka Murakami, Mishima Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Aug. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/453,261.
Application 18/453,261 is a continuation of application No. 17/591,560, filed on Feb. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,774,887.
Application 17/591,560 is a continuation of application No. 17/209,103, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,275,330, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Application 17/209,103 is a continuation of application No. 16/885,209, filed on May 27, 2020, granted, now 10,990,044, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-165351 (JP), filed on Sep. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0393501 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2039 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2053 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2025 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
a fixing unit including:
a belt that is electrically connected between a first power source and a first ground terminal, and
a heater configured to heat the belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate;
a detection element electrically connected to the belt and by which a current that flows through the belt is detected; and
a controller configured to shut off the heater if no current flows through the belt, wherein
the detection element includes a light emitting diode and a light receiving element,
a cathode of the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the belt, and an anode of the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the first power source,
the light receiving element is electrically connected between a second power source and a second ground terminal, and
the controller is configured to determine whether a current is flowing through the belt by detecting a current flowing through the light receiving element.